posted 09-07-2017 07:18 PM
Has anyone seen what the head would look like on the flashlight with the aluminized reflector? I understand it will look similar to the original but how close I'm curious.

David CMember

Posts: 670From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 09-08-2017 05:01 PM

quote:Originally posted by 328KF:Has anyone asked the question yet?

I've asked, still waiting for a response.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 38396From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 09-11-2017 07:38 AM
Javier Barbarin of Barbolight sent out an update to its backers with answers to the recent questions posted here:

Differences on reflector and acrylic lense. The first prototype we made to test the assembly was a functional one, but it is not good for giving you an idea, and the picture does not make justice to the final result. My advice is: if you are looking for the highest, functionality, reliability and efficiency then go for the acrylic version (frosted lense, like in the picture); if you want it looking closer to the original get the glass version + reflector. Looks nicer, still a very good flashlight, but not the best that can be achieved with nowadays technology.

Regarding the light projected, the reflector one has a narrower angle, but thanks to the "orange peel" reflector the transition from spot to corona is still soft. The corona on this one is limited to 70 degrees, but on the TIR lense (frosted) there is residual light output, but still useful on a 150 degree angle.

Two choices for multiple penlight backers. Unfortunately this is something I should have thought before, but now I can't repeat the survey. Yes, you can choose any type, but I'm going to ask you to send me an email.

9- 2017 date engraved. We are doing a great effort to be able to offer 4 different options on a small production, and initially the 2017 option had to be discarded because of the very limited interest among the backers. In fact we were planning to make just one engraving, and finally we decided to go for the two top choices.

Thanks again for trusting us. I'll do my best to post pictures of the "glass lens" version as soon as possible.

David CMember

Posts: 670From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 09-14-2017 07:45 PM
Thanks Robert, just got the same reply.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 38396From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 09-29-2017 12:59 PM
Update from Barbolight:

When we offered the glass version, and we did it because we wanted as many of you asked for it, we knew that it was not going to be easy, specially of we keep in mind that the delivery date since the end of the funding, was very tight.

The light was designed for a very specific TIR lens, and now we wanted it to make a glass + aluminum reflector version. Unfortunately it is not a "swap" and lot of things had to be modified and tested again to allow the penlight be assembled with both solutions while keeping same performance. Focusing point was not the same and metal reflector can cause a short, so we had to make a plastic injection part for it; water resistance can't be achieved the same way, and we had to design a test a reflector from zero, as there was nothing in the market available matching our dimensions and requirements. The sapphire glass had to be customized too, even we tested many versions of AR coating (anti reflex). We could not allow glass parts to touch metal parts, because that way is too sensitive to impacts...

Being said this I would like to apologize for not being able to match the expected delivery date, and I hope you will understand that technically it's been a challenge which we have enjoyed.

Being said this I would like to tell you that now that this version has been already fully tested and it works nicely. We have obtained better results that expected and the efficiency is really good as well as beam quality. Mass order has been launched and we expect if everything goes smoothly to deliver all of them before the end of this month.

Oh, I'm adding too a picture of the packaging, which I do think is a good design. We made it looking at the "flight plans."

328KFMember

Posts: 1093From: Registered: Apr 2008

posted 12-07-2017 12:02 PM
This thread hasn't been updated in awhile. It sounds like the flashlights are ready to be shipped, and Javier also posted this:

Our dear supporters, we would like you to know that some of the lights we have produced will be used on the movie "First Man," which I guess will make them even more a collector’s item.